Willamette Downs Rival Corban, 8-5

Willamette has clinched the Salem series title for 2007.

Corban Baseball Photo: Kevin Hays

SALEM - Senior right fielder Kelly Gilmore hit a two-RBI double and scored twice, while senior center fielder Sean Anderson hit a two-run double and scored once, leading Willamette University to an 8-5 victory over visiting Corban College at John Lewis Field on Tuesday.

The Bearcats upped their record to 15-18 on the season, including 3-0 in the Salem Series. Corban dropped to 10-26-1.

Willamette has clinched the Salem Series title for 2007.

The teams will meet one more time, on Tuesday, April 24th.

First pitch at John Lewis Field is scheduled for 4:00 PM.

The game has been changed from the original schedule, when it was slated for April 25th at Volcanoes Stadium.

In Tuesday's win, Willamette pitcher Kelsey Nakata threw four innings of middle relief and allowed just one run on two hits.

He picked up the win, as the improved to 2-2 on the season. Matt Bicocca recorded his second save of the season after facing the minimum of three batters in the ninth inning.

Corban's starter, Scott Flux, fell to 1-1 with the loss. He allowed five runs on four hits and four walks in the first two innings.

The Warriors led 1-0 when Brett Timmerman hit an RBI single with two outs in the first inning.

Willamette took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the innining, when Gilmore, Anderson and Matt Rasmusse all walked.

Gilmore scored and Anderson moved to third on a wild pitch with two outs. Anderson advanced home on a throwing error when Rasmussen stole second base.

Willamette tacked on three runs in the bottom of the second inning, including two on Anderson's double.

Corban pulled within 5-4 by scoring three runs on five consecutive hits in the top of the third. Gilmore's double increased WU's lead to 7-4 in the bottom of the inning.

Colin Young hit a double to drive in Grant Yamaguchi with the Bearcats' final run in the fourth inning.

Willamette remained in front 8-4 until Jamie McGraw of Corban walked to start the seventh inning and eventually scored on an infield hit by Frantz.

The grounder by Frantz was deflected by third baseman Andrew Ross as he dove into the gap toward shortstop.

The ball changed trajectory and avoided Rasmussen, who was moving toward the foul line to support Ross on the play.

Neither team scored the rest of the way. Nakata, who entered the game in the fourth inning, gave way to Jimmy Meuel, who faced just three batters in the eighth, before Bicocca closed out the game.

Young was the only Bearcat with more than one hit, as he went 2 for 4 with a run scored and one RBI.

A total of seven Willamette players earned one hit apiece and the Bearcats received eight walks.

The doubles by Anderson, Gilmore and Young were the only extra-base hits for either team.

Corban achieved a total of 10 hits, including a 3-for-4 performance by Frantz, but the Warriors were issued just one walk.

Craig Spicer was 2 for 5 with two runs and Brett Timmerman was 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Frantz scored once and registered two RBIs.

Willamette returns to action on Saturday, when the Bearcats host Pacific University in a Northwest Conference doubleheader at noon.

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